{"id":20031,"date":"2026-09-03T03:56:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T03:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/?page_id=20031---555c975b-c6d5-4537-a463-ed420119f32f"},"modified":"2026-09-29T01:55:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T01:55:06","slug":"masters-degree-needed-to-become-nurse-practitioner","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/nursing-degrees\/masters-degree-needed-to-become-nurse-practitioner\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I Need to Get a Master\u2019s Degree If I Want to Become a Nurse Practitioner?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>For many registered nurses (RN) today, the idea of advanced education is both exciting and achievable. Today, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) continues to make positive recommendations related to RNs continuing their educations. Many work places also offer tuition reimbursement to their existing staff. Many academic institutions offer advanced degree programs entirely online, allowing actively working RNs to maintain their career and pursue additional education.<\/p>\n

There are many RNs interested in pursuing a nurse practitioner (NP) degree. If this is you, good! Currently, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) like nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners<\/a> average $114,000\/year with a job outlook increasing at an astounding rate of 26%. These numbers are exceptional, especially compared to the (also positive) statistics of an RN<\/a> career ($72,000\/year and 12 % growth).<\/p>\n

If you have decided to pursue your NP degree, there are still some things you need to decide. Perhaps one of your biggest choices is this: will you be pursuing a master\u2019s degree or a doctoral degree?<\/p>\n

Advanced Degrees for a Nurse Practitioner<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are two degrees one can pursue if they desire to be an NP. The first is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Upon completion of a MSN program and passing of the NP boards, one would be a certified NP. The second degree option is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Upon completion of this program and passing of boards, one would be a DNP.<\/p>\n

RELATED: The Best-Paying Jobs in Health Care: Top 15 Highest-Paying Medical Specialties<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Master of Science in Nursing<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Typical candidates for an MSN program have a bachelor\u2019s of science in nursing (BSN) and an active unencumbered RN license. However, there are also MSN programs that will accept any bachelor\u2019s degree for admittance, whether or not the candidates have an RN license. For those unlicensed candidates, the program includes 18 months of work towards a BSN license before the MSN can be achieved. For those who hold an associate degree in nursing (ADN), there are also \u201cbridge\u201d MSN programs, in which students get both a BSN and a MSN upon completion.<\/p>\n

MSN programs typically desire at least one year of professional nursing practice. Depending on the program, there may be more years of work experience required for admittance. Length of MSN programs is usually two years (with a bachelor’s degree) and three years for a bridge program. Many programs, both online and on-campus, offer the option of slowing the program down, though there is often a limit on how many years you have to complete the degree.<\/p>\n

Your MSN education will focus on nursing theories and principles. Typical course work may include advanced pathophysiology, statistics and research methods, health promotion, and acute disease management. You will have the option to choose a specialization from a variety of options, like gerontology, family practice, neonatal, or women\u2019s health (not an all-inclusive list).<\/p>\n

Doctor of Nursing Practice<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

A DNP is considered a terminal degree for a nurse. This means that it is the highest level of academic training one can achieve in the nursing field. It also prepares one for the highest level of nursing jobs. Candidates to DNP programs usually need a bachelor\u2019s degree or a master\u2019s degree; there are a few programs that accept associate degrees. Some programs also require candidates to have APRN certifications, professional work experience and references and perform multiple interviews during the application process.<\/p>\n

Most DNP programs typically take between 2-5 years to complete. Length of program often depends on the working experiences of the nurse, especially as it pertains to their chosen DNP specialization. Common specialties include adult gerontology care, family care, women\u2019s health care, neonatal care, and psychiatric-mental health care.<\/p>\n

DNP courses will include clinical ethics and theory, informatics, epidemiology principles, healthcare quality improvement, and research. DNP students must complete at least 1000 hours of clinical experience; this is a requirement from the American Academy of Colleges of Nursing.<\/p>\n

Tracks to Achieve a DNP<\/em><\/p>\n

There are four ways to potentially earn a DNP, regardless of your educational background.<\/p>\n